UGears Monowheel

Monowheel vehicles were invented in the late 19^th century, and though they proved too cumbersome for everyday transportation, they still captured the imaginations of inventors, engineers, and mechanics. Some were operated by a person sitting inside the wheel, while others were controlled by someone outside the vehicle or by a motor. All of them incorporated a moving exterior element and stationary interior component. One early prototype was an armored model intended for military use. That monowheel had an external shell to protect the inner workings from battlefield hazards and ran without a human driver.

You can still find monowheels today, but they are mostly used for entertainment and carry with them some safety concerns. For those who would rather not risk the lateral instability or the terrifyingly named “gerbiling” effect, this miniature model is an excellent alternative. This steampunk monowheel was inspired in part by the military model and the driver-passenger prototype. In creating it, we stripped away the outer armor to let you observe the gears in motion. The exposed interior lets you easily control the rubber band motor and replace the bands and other parts as needed.

The completed model looks great on any collector’s shelf, but it does not have to stay there. The durable design allows it to roll over semi-hard and hard surfaces, meaning you can enjoy this model indoors and outdoors. It has two working modes that allow you to see the monowheel in action. One mode leaves the feet unlocked, letting the monowheel travel up to 5 meters or until it encounters an obstacle. The other mode keeps the feet locked, letting it roll up to 2 meters before turning and stopping.

The UGears Monowheel kit is an exciting and challenging model to assemble, with 300 laser-cut wooden parts. We have thoughtfully included 19 spare parts in case something gets lost or breaks. The pieces come still attached to the plywood and need to be carefully removed before assembly. Full-color instructions in 11 languages (English, Japanese, German, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Chinese, Korean, Ukrainian, Italian, and French) will help both experienced and novice hobbyists complete this project successfully. You do not need any special tools or adhesives to assemble this model. Simply remove the pieces, follow the instructions, and you are ready to roll.